Historic Day for Anglican Church in BermudaFinally a woman Priest

Jan 3rd, 2010

From 2010, Bermuda will get services of a woman priest for the first time in its history at its Anglican church at Somerset, Sandys parish. Rev. Joanna Pauline Hollis was ordained into the Priesthood on December 10 in Santa Barbara, California. For the first time after 400 years, the Anglican Church of Bermuda voted in favor of women clergy on the Island. Many local Anglican believe that this has been long due. However, Anglican Bishop the Rt. Rev. Patrick White said no women had ever applied for a vacancy in Bermuda.

Rev. Joanna Hollis, who was just at the right time to take up the priesthood, graduated from seminary school in California. In May, she obtained a Masters in Divinity from the Church Divinity School of the Pacific. In June, she was ordained as a Deacon in the Episcopal Church of United States.

Here is what Rev. Hollis said on her ordination: "I am extremely happy to have gotten to this point in my life, and I am so glad that my family was there to experience this with me. Also, I am very grateful to all of those who have supported me through prayers and gifts."

She will be in Bermuda for the holidays and has agreed to deliver the sermon on January 3 at St. James Church in Somerset where her father is the priest in charge.

"With the permission of the Bishop of Bermuda, she will celebrate and preach at the 10.30 a.m. service at St. James Church, Sandys," her father said in a prepared statement. "Everyone is welcome to worship with us and to fellowship with us in the Parish Hall after the service, especially the many well-wishers from all over Bermuda."

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